Susan E. Rice, former national security adviser and U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations
“Ambassador Joyce E. Leader provides a rare, moving, and personal account of the path to genocide in Rwanda, arguing that U.S. and international diplomacy, which prioritized democracy promotion and peace over conflict prevention, inadvertently contributed to the crisis. From Hope to Horror offers practical lessons for policy makers derived from Rwanda’s tragedy.”
Chester A. Crocker, James R. Schlesinger Professor of Strategic Studies, The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
“Joyce Leader’s authoritative account of the years and months leading up to Rwanda’s orgy of killing in 1994 is destined to become a definitive history of what went wrong, why, and when. It belongs at the center of literature on this important episode in Africa’s modern history.”
Lt. Gen. Roméo Dallaire (Ret.), former commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in Rwanda
“Insightful and compassionate, this book details the bitter power struggle behind the Rwandan genocide. Joyce Leader makes a convincing, heartfelt case for early diplomatic interventions to stem conflicts before military involvement.”
Herman J. Cohen, former U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs and career ambassador
“A treasure trove of information and insights. Joyce Leader’s plan for diplomatic reform that would prioritize conflict prevention and resolution and her detailed organizational proposals deserve wide reading within the foreign policy and national security policy communities.”
George Moose, vice chair of the U.S. Institute of Peace and former assistant secretary of state for African Affairs
“Joyce Leader obliges us to . . . ask how so many well-intentioned diplomats could have inadvertently contributed to one of the most murderous episodes in modern history. Her book is a must-read for all who hope to honor the injunction ‘Never again!’”
Susan F. Martin, Donald G. Herzberg Professor Emerita of International Migration at Georgetown University
“There is no better source of information on the lead-up to the Rwandan genocide than Ambassador Joyce Leader. She brings a wealth of knowledge as a seasoned foreign service officer and diplomat in Rwanda at that time. This volume is useful for policy makers and academics alike.”
Kelly McFall, Professor of History, Newman University, Kansas, “New Books in Genocide Studies” podcast, New Books Network
“Among the many books that were published in the past year [in genocide studies], Joyce E. Leader‘s From Hope to Horror…stands out…Leader offers a nuanced interpretation of the causes of the violence, one that supplements other secondary research. She also reflects on how we can apply the lessons of Rwanda to future conflicts… It’s an important and valuable book.”
Noam Schimmler, Visiting Associate Professor of Ethics and International Affairs, The Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University
“Thank you, Joyce, for your illuminating and important reflection on such a consequential and ethically urgent issue. Your insights are deeply valuable and need to inform diplomacy and global politics.”